[Bette]

Are you ready for some football?

The season begins with the reigning Super Bowl champs hosting the Washington Redskins at the Meadowlands for the season kickoff. Game time is 7pm EST on Thursday, Sept. 4th.
The Giants have been hit hard on defense with the retirement of Michael Strahan and the season ending injury of Osi Umenyiora. Will the Giants be able to successfully fill the holes?
WR Plaxico Burress is still questionable.

Who do you pick to win?

[Dusty]

Gotta go with the Giants because Jason Campell is not a big time quarterback (yet) and Clinton Portis is past his prime. The Giants offense and ferocious defense wins 24-14. As I said in the past about Osi's injury and Strahan's retirement. With Tom Brady's Super Bowl XVII nightmare Justin Tuck and first round draft pick and blossoming Matthias Kiwanuka rushing the quarterback at the ends you lose nothing save perhaps depth in the DE position. They have 2 Pro-Bowl caliber starters in Tuck and Kiwanuka and the 'Skins offensive line is gonna have a long day keeping them blocked I assure you.

[Bette]

Its the half and so far, as John Madden put it, the Super Bowl Champs look like Super Bowl Champs. As far as I can see, there arent any big weaknesses, except for special teams. The last kick return cost them a score by the Redskins. Rock Cartwright returned for 50 yards. He had a couple of good runs besides that.
Eli looks like the MVP he was at the Super Bowl. He and Plaxico Burress have been connecting on a regular basis. Burress is happy, he got his contract done today.
The Giants signed the oldest NFL player, John Carney, as their kicker. So far he has been making all his kicks. Their punter is a rookie, Durant Brooks.
The Redskins, nothing going anywhere much except special teams. Giants led 16-0 until under two minutes, until the Skins came alive and got their td. Campbell didnt get his first completed pass until then.
There have been plenty of penalties on both sides.

[Bette]

Giants came out strong in the first half, but lagged in the second. No more scores were accumulated by either team.
The Giants have successfully filled the holes on defense.
A good defense could successfully challenge the Giants offense though.
The Redskins offense was very ineffective. Jason Campbell just doesnt have it together yet. Poor time management by him and poor clock management by the coach. Not a good showing for the Skins offense at all.
Look for some fines for both sides to show up this week. They got into it once or twice. Al Michael said what do you expect? Its the NFC East.
When you hear the voices of Michael and Madden, you know for sure football season is here!

Giants win 16-7

[Dusty]

Originally Posted by Bette

When you hear the voices of Michael and Madden, you know for sure football season is here!

Giants win 16-7

Yeah the NFL season has started alright and it was a tough game. Giants played their usual defensive power running game and as typical of the Giants their defense won the game for them. Jason Campbell was out of any kind of rhythm, Justin Tuck was incredible, Kiwanuka was great as well and the secondary held for the most part (I loved the deep pass to Santana Moss where Aaron Ross was one on one with him and had him covered like a blanket all the way.) Ross could have picked off the ball easy if Moss didn't play a bit of defense and knock the ball away. Eli was Eli, Burress was brilliant, and the offensive line of the Giants was excellent. Lots of room for improvement for both teams but it's only Week 1. Bottom line is the Giants won.

[Bette]

What's your answer to no points scored in the second half?
And at the end of the first half, all the Giants could come up with was field goals? (kicked by their 44 year old kicker I might add)

[Dusty]

Originally Posted by Bette

What's your answer to no points scored in the second half?
And at the end of the first half, all the Giants could come up with was field goals? (kicked by their 44 year old kicker I might add)

Well I thought the Redskins made some defensive adjustments and the Giants just got lackadaisical. Madden remarked upon this several times about the Giants conservativeness. It just seemed like both teams were playing not to lose rather than to win the game. And hey that 44 year old kicker kicked a 47 yard field goal and made a touchdown saving tackle on Rock Carwright so he can get the job done for now at least. Good young kickers are becoming a rare breed indeed.

[Bette]

Originally Posted by Dusty

Well I thought the Redskins made some defensive adjustments and the Giants just got lackadaisical. Madden remarked upon this several times about the Giants conservativeness. It just seemed like both teams were playing not to lose rather than to win the game. And hey that 44 year old kicker kicked a 47 yard field goal and made a touchdown saving tackle on Rock Carwright so he can get the job done for now at least. Good young kickers are becoming a rare breed indeed.

Hmm, I saw it more as the Redskins made defensive adjustments and the Giants were thrown off. And that maybe a good defense could keep the Giants in check.
Just think about being 44 and kicking a 47 yard field goal. Well, at least me. I am waaaay past 44.
Jason Campbell has a lot to learn yet doesnt he? He wasted so much time.

[Dusty]

Originally Posted by Bette

Hmm, I saw it more as the Redskins made defensive adjustments and the Giants were thrown off. And that maybe a good defense could keep the Giants in check.
Just think about being 44 and kicking a 47 yard field goal. Well, at least me. I am waaaay past 44.
Jason Campbell has a lot to learn yet doesnt he? He wasted so much time.

Yes, I agree on points and disagree on one. I'm not sure a good defense can keep the Giants in check when they really get rolling because that offensive line and those runningbacks will eventually bust through anything and that will open the secondary for Eli. That long pass to Sinorice Moss was so perfect that I didn't see why they didn't try using a speed reciever down the field with one on one coverage since Plax had two guys on him (and still had a huge night!) and their secondary was decimated anyway. They should have thrown deep more with Smith and Moss that's an example of what I mean by lacksidasical. I agree though that the Skins defensive adjustments made it a lot harder for the Giants to move the ball and yes Jason Campbell has a lot to learn but improved drastically in the second half.

[Bette]

Originally Posted by Dusty

Yes, I agree on points and disagree on one. I'm not sure a good defense can keep the Giants in check when they really get rolling because that offensive line and those runningbacks will eventually bust through anything and that will open the secondary for Eli. That long pass to Sinorice Moss was so perfect that I didn't see why they didn't try using a speed reciever down the field with one on one coverage since Plax had two guys on him (and still had a huge night!) and their secondary was decimated anyway. They should have thrown deep more with Smith and Moss that's an example of what I mean by lacksidasical. I agree though that the Skins defensive adjustments made it a lot harder for the Giants to move the ball and yes Jason Campbell has a lot to learn but improved drastically in the second half.

Brandon Jacobs reminded me of a big old bull bustin through the fence. He just lowers his head a bit and keeps on going, sometimes carrying 3-4 defenders with him.
Burress was awesome. Guess he deserved that new contract.
But still, I think a good D could stop them. Maybe someone like the Dallas Cowboys.